Coloured Carbon extra reinforcement?

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Coloured Carbon extra reinforcement?

Author	Message
k9gti	k9gti posted 11 Years Ago HOT Topic Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 3, Visits: 18	Hi, What sort of layering would you suggest for using coloured carbon cloth to make car body panels? I am looking at making a carbon engine lid (resin infused process) for my '73 Beetle, for road use. Since the coloured cloth is a carbon/polyester blend and so has less strength that plain carbon I assume it needs a secondary layer behind it? I was thinking of 1x 210g Colour cloth, 1x regular 200g carbon, a 2mm Soric core layer, and then another plain carbon inner 200g layer for the inner, plus extra strengthening around the outer edges (seal, hinge & latch positions) and numberplate light mounting area. Would this be strong enough? I think this would make it about 2.75mm thick. Would this be a good strength for a road car? Or would you recommend a 3mm core or more carbon layers? Thanks for your guidance! :-) Nigel
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Warren (Staff)	Warren (Staff) posted 11 Years Ago HOT Post Details
Group: Administrators Posts: 2.5K, Visits: 7.9K	For really lightweight panels, a single layer of carbon either side of 3mm soric is about as light as you can go. Warren Penalver Easy Composites / Carbon Mods - Technical Support Assistant
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k9gti	k9gti posted 11 Years Ago HOT Post Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 3, Visits: 18	Thanks - I know that is the ideal for regular carbon, but what do you suggest for using the coloured carbon which isn't as strong? Does it need an extra normal carbon layer before the Soric? As I said, it's a road car so ultimate lightness isn't the highest priority - it needs to last as well.
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wozza	wozza posted 11 Years Ago HOT Post Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 688, Visits: 5.4K	Hi in my experience the issue is not one of strength. In the application you are describing there will be very little tangible difference between the two types of reinforcement. The issue will be purely cosmetic. These fabrics are more transparent than the black carbon cloth and therefor the soric can show through. Not a structural issue purely a cosmetic one. When using these cloths I always double layer just to reduce the risk of this happening. Regards Warren Carbon Copies Ltd
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k9gti	k9gti posted 11 Years Ago HOT Post Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 3, Visits: 18	Thank you Warren - that was very helpful
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ajb100	ajb100 posted 11 Years Ago HOT Post Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 346, Visits: 4.4K	ive found that the coloured carbon allows slightly more twist in the part. for christmas i came up with a little gimmicky thing to sell and had a layup in carbon fibre with glass in the middle. one customer requested the use of coloured carbon on the top layer. when i layed it up with the same schedule as normal carbon, it came out the mould and had a twist along its diaganol. i havnt since had a chance to investigate it any further, at the time i just but some extra plain weave glass to try and strengthen it
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